The Apostle Paul writes these words to the Roman community immediately following his description of Abraham. Abraham was a man who suffered trials: “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” (Romans 4:19-20)
This week Atlanta area teachers and some Atlanta area students will go back to the classroom with great hope for a “return to normal” after a year and a half of Pandemic unpredictability. For many of us, 2020-2021 has been a time of perseverance. Merriam-Webster defines perseverance as “persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” In the past eighteen months, we have been separated from loved ones, and our plans have been interrupted. Because we have had to become more flexible, that word “pivot” has become a staple in my daily routine and vocabulary.
While the world may be returning to normal, we are no longer “normal.” Paul says perseverance produces character. This character is not inherited but formed. Paul uses the Greek work dokime , which means “proving character,” the kind that comes from testing. Like a precious metal refined in a hot fire, the impure is separated out. Only the best remains.
The Apostle James writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
Perseverance leads us to mature as Christians. As Paul says, with our proven character we have hope. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.